A final farewell: Mourning some well-known folks we lost in 2022

Dec. 30—A township fiscal officer and three former government leaders were among the prominent local residents who died in 2022.

The following is a recap of some of the well-know people whom we bid farewell to this year. Listings are arranged alphabetically by last names.

Amy Dawson

Dawson had served as Concord Township fiscal officer since 2009. In 2005, she began working as assistant fiscal officer in that same community.

"She meant a lot to Concord," said townshp Trustee Amy Lucci. "She took great care of our fiscal responsibilities, and she's going to be greatly missed. Not only was she a great colleague, but she was a great friend of mine."

A graduate of Leadership Lake County, Dawson also was active with the Western Reserve Junior Service League.

Dawson, 57, died Nov. 3.

David Gilmer

Gilmer was a public servant to Lake County residents for half of a century, his obituary stated.

Along with serving as director of the Lake County Planning Commission for 26 years, Gilmer held positions as president of the Fair Housing Resource Center; executive director of the Lake County Development Council; and trustee of Western Reserve Development Corp.

"He served with dedication and thoughtfulness of spirit, sharing his time and energy," his obituary stated.

Gilmer died Dec. 9. He was 88.

Mary Javins

Javins served for 19 years on the Fairport Harbor School Board. Her obituary stated that she decided to run for a board seat after volunteering as "a lunch lady" in the McKinley Elementary School cafeteria.

Javins was first elected to a four-year term on the board in 2001 and went on to win re-election to the panel four times. She resigned in 2020, about a year before she was slated to run for a sixth term.

Fairport Harbor Mayor Timothy Manross said Javins "was an exceptional public servant, dedicated to the community and to children."

"Her many years on the school board certainly reflect that commitment," Manross said. "She was a great neighbor and friend to many, and she will be missed."

Javins died Oct. 11. Her obituary did not list her age or birth date.

Bruce Kephart

Kephart distinguished himself through a long career in banking.

He spent almost 19 years at Bank One, where his last position was manager of corporate banking for Northeast Ohio.

After Bank One, Kephart joined FirstMerit Bank, where he was a regional president with a specialization in commercial lending for 19 years, covering Northeast Ohio.

"He can be credited for helping give many Lake County businesses their footing and putting them on a path to great success," his obituary stated.

Kephart, who also played on the Little League state championship team in 1963, died July 3. He was 70.

Terry C. Profughi

Profughi owned and operated many businesses over the years, according to his obituary.

In addition to serving as CEO and president of HI TecMetal Group, which is based in Cleveland and has a plant in Wickliffe, Profughi received many honors for his business achievements.

Some of those accolades included: the 1993 Ohio Entrepreneur of the Year; the 1993 and 1994 Arthur Anderson Leadership 2000 awards, and the 1995 Weatherhead Excellence in Management Award,

Profughi, 76, died Nov. 20.

Grace Reese

In 1980, Reese earned the distinction of being the first woman to serve on Madison Village Council.

After initially being appointed to fill a council vacancy, she then was elected by village voters and stayed on the panel through 1989.

During her tenure as council member, she also represented the village for five years on the Madison Fire District Board. In addition, Reese served as an appointed member of the Madison Village Planning and Zoning Commission from 1974 through 1978.

She also was well-known in the Madison community as a musician and teacher of piano, her obituary stated.

Reese died March 5. She was 88.

Robert C. Sidley

As CEO of R.W. Sidley Inc., which is based in Painesville Township, Sidley served the family business for more than 44 years.

"Even beyond his retirement in 2002, he continued to work for his father's company for many more years," his obituary stated.

Sidley was active in the Ohio Ready Mix Concrete Association, serving on its board of directors and as president from 1986 to 1988, according to his obituary. He also was a director for the National Ready Mix Concrete Association.

Sidley, 87, died Nov. 24.

Arnold Stanko

Stanko, who served as police chief for Waite Hill and Middlefield villages, worked for 38 years in law enforcement.

He graduated from the FBI National Academy; Police Executive Leadership College at Ohio State University; and numerous leadership and strategic in-service training schools throughout Ohio, his obituary stated.

In addition, he was a founding board member of the Northeastern Ohio Amber Alert partnership.

Stanko died Jan. 16. He was 70.

Jeffrey Stevens

Stevens was the founder and former owner of Stevens Auto Glaze & Security in Eastlake and Steven Car Care Products, his obituary stated.

Stevens' businesses sponsored many youth sports activities and community programs related to veterans.

He also was an avid musician.

Stevens, 67, died July 22.

Tim Verh

Verh was one of Euclid's four original Community Policing officers from the 1990s and served in that capacity for nearly eight of his 28 years with the Euclid Police Department.

His love of fishing was known to all and he shared that passion with the youth of Euclid. He started the "Hooked on Fishing, not on Drugs" program in the early 1990s and that program continues to this day, according to a Facebook post from the department.

"Tim was a dedicated public servant, a loving husband, wonderful father and proud grandfather," the department stated in the post. "He touched many lives and will be dearly missed. Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones in this terrible time of loss. Brother, wherever you are we hope the sun is shining, there's a breeze in the air and there is always a fish-on! Rest in peace Timmy."

Verh died Oct. 12. He was 56.